Art Mint launches the second of its Four Seasons coins with a tribute to summers nature

After the debut of the first in their new ‘Four Seasons’ series of coins back in June, Art Mint has launched the second of the four. Designed by artist Miroslav Hric, a regular collaborator with Art Mint, each glorifies the nature of one of the four seasons. A fine idea and one we thought well implemented first time around. The second coin runs with that success and gives us a good idea of how the complete set of coins will hang together.

The design again hangs around a central embedded yellow crystal that represents the sun. Surrounding that is a detailed high-relief montage of natural elements that flow in a circle around it. A dragonfly,  a butterfly and nesting birds are all expertly woven into a background of flora. An absence of intrusive inscriptions on this face is a definite positive.

The obverse face is, by contrast, a pretty standard affair. Issued for Niue, it carries the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, along with inscriptions detailing the issuer, date, denomination and composition. The coin serial number is etched into the edge. Struck in 0.999 silver, the weight of two ounces goes to a combination of enhanced relief and a decent 50 mm diameter.

A certificate of authenticity is included in a good quality coin box, and it’s all wrapped up in a themed shipper box. Two more coins to come next year, obviously Autumn/Fall and Winter. We’ve seen some preliminary art for these and they look great, following these two very closely in concept. Another impressive release from Art Mint, it’s available to pre-order now for just under €300. Site sponsor PowerCoin has it up for pre-order and it should ship around he end of next month.

2017 FOUR SEASONS ‘SUMMER’ PROOF SILVER COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The pure Silver 2oz coins are strictly limited to only 500 pieces worldwide and minted in special medallic High Relief technique with the serial number on the edge. Furthermore, they impress with their various engraved details and the sophisticated handmade design. A masterpiece of numismatic art!

Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, falling between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice. The date of the beginning of summer varies according to climate, tradition and culture.
When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa.

For most people, this time of the year is associated with fun as schools break on holidays and most offices are not fully active. Summer brings back lots of outdoor social activities impossible in the freezing cold winter. Most people visit picnics, beaches and parks to relax and unwind themselves under clear skies. For the party rockers, summertime is ‘open season’ so many parties are held to take advantage of the fine weather, with clear skies the summer hosts a very bright moon, ideal for this purpose. This season brings bright and longer days, which exposes the beauty of nature, grasses are green, flowers bloom and myriad birds and animals return to the melted and blossoming fields.

For some, summer is much disliked, backed by complaints of discomfort caused by the high heat levels and slowdown of business activity during this time. Summer is associated with life, birth and rebirth, it is deduced that plant and animal life go into a state of rest/hibernation during the cold months of winter; it is as though the teeming colours and sounds of nature have disappeared. The summer gives life/birth/rebirth to life around us, plants blossom, animals happily resume activity and nature feels ‘alive’ again. This has been and is still the most celebrated aspect of this season.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 FOUR SEASONS
DENOMINATION $5 New Zealand
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 62.2 grams
DIAMETER 50.00 mm
FINISH Proof
MODIFICATIONS High relief, crystal insert
MINTAGE 500
BOX / COA Yes / Yes
ART MINT